Improvement in combined aquariums, bird-cages, and flower-stands



1. CHASE: Combined Aquarium, Bird-Cage and Flower-Stand.

N0.I64,()74 Patentedlune8,1875.

THE GRAPHIC CO.PHO D LITHJN &4| PARK PLAGEJLY.

UNITED 7 SA (JAMES CHASE, or Roormsrnn, new YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,074, dated June 8, 1875; application filed 7 April 3, 1875.

- New York, have invented a new and useful Combined Aquarium, Plant-Stand, and Fern cry; and I do hereby declare that the folloW- ing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a transverse verticalsection of my invention on the dotted line as in Fig. 2, a portion of cap D and one saucer being broken away to show the central pivotc' of the latter, and its connection with the cap. Fig. 2 is a top view, the hanging basket and upper crock and saucer and two of the lower crocks and one saucer being removed. Fig. 3 shows modifications in the construction of the crock and saucer, and the method of attaching them to the cap D and to each other.

The object of this invention is to so construct an aquarium as to embrace in one frame an aquarium, fernery, and, with either of those, a bird-cage, or all three, if desired, and the same to constitute an ornamental plant-stand. Its nature consists mainly in the combination of these articles in a tasteful and convenient manner.

In reducing my invention to a practical shape I construct the frame or case of any suitable or desired size, preferably in the proportions shown, and with three compartments extending longitudinally. The base A I prefer to make of cast-iron, with a cored chamber, E, extending laterally under the central chamber, so as to connect the two side compartments, and its openings may be surrounded with a raised rib, h. The side and end plates 1? and R are also of cast-iron, and may be made of any ornamental pattern. The capplate D is of metal, and formed as shown, bein g provided with either grooves 0r projecting ribs, the same as the base A, to receive the edge of the sides and ends P and R, against which the glass plates are bedded. The metal side and end plates 1? and R are so formed as to constitute avertical column at the corners,

either round, as shown in Fig. 2, octagonal, or

any other desired contour, and form a hollow,

7 through which the clamping-rods r are placed.

These rods may be provided with ornamental convert that compartment into a fernery, and

one of the side chambers might be converted into a bird-cage, by removing the glass from the ends and side, and substituting netting or grate-bars therefor, and placing the same in the top. If more room should be required than is afforded in one of the compartments, an additional section could be connected to the side or upon the top for birds.

The trap t, through which the water may be supplied or drawn ofi', should extend up nearly to the plate p, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent the fishes or other occupants from passing outwith the current when the cork is removed. The elevated saucer is provided with four lugs, H, projecting from the bottom, and they are drilled to receive the upper ends of the suspension-rods L, their lower ends being similarly fitted into the lugs F. This sau-.

oer has also a central lug, to which the chain of the hanging basket B is attached. The saucers are provided with three vertical centering-ribs, d, Fig. 2, to steady the crooks G, which are fitted to rest between them. The saucers are provided with a pivot, i, which fits snugly in the holes bored through the cap D, which is thickened at these points by the lugs n. There may be a slightly-raised circular rest, 0, around these holes, to raise the saucers above the general surface of the cap.

It will be seen that by means of the pivot and the centering-ribs the saucers are always held firmly in their proper position upon the cap D and the crooks centrally within their re spective saucers. Instead of this method of attaching the saucers and centering the crooks, it might be-desirable to form pivots upon the cap D, as indicated at c, Fig. 3, and form the saucer witha central inverted cup, a, opening downward to fit upon this pivot, and the opening 1) in the bottom of the crock in this case should be triangular, as shown, or some other shape than round, so as to have bearings against the cup a, and at the same time permit the water to filter from it into the saucer,

As a matter of convenience in transferring these crocks and saucers to an ordinary plant-.

stand, and to permit ordinary crooks to be placed upon the aquarium, a detachable double pivoted plate, f, may be employed, which mi ght be removed from the cap Dto permit an ordinary crock or saucer to be placed thereon, and replaced to receive those shown.

It will be seen that by means of the offset of the metal sides and ends at the corners the glass plates T are made to meet, and, the joint being cemented, the water can never reach the metal.

Should it be desirable to keep different kinds of fish or other aquatic specimens apart from each other, the connection E between the two side chambers may be closed by placing a glass over the opening in either. It is obvious that the depression E would never be emptied through the tube t, and the rib h prevents the gravel from passing down into the said depression. Therefore, when the glass is to be cleaned, the water might be drawn down to the top of the tube t, and the fishes allowed to remain in the depression or chamber E while said cleaning is going on.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a combined aquarium and fernery, the cap D, constructed, as shown and described, so as to receive and sustain in their proper relative position the pivoted saucers S and the suspension-rods L, for the purpose of con stituting in the same article an ornamental plant-stand.

2. In combination with a combined aquarium and fernery, or bird-cage, the suspended Witnesses A. MANDEVILLE, WM. S. LOUGHBOROUGH. 

